Hong Kong Tells Residents to Steer Clear of Chinese Eels
Date: 18-Aug-05
Country: HONG KONG
"Everyone should be careful. You shouldn't eat eel. Let us test them first, clarify the situation and we will inform everyone," Health Minister York Chow told reporters.
A government spokesman said the warning followed reports in China's media on Tuesday that the southern province of Guangdong had recalled and banned exports of all eel products after the carcinogen, malachite green, was found in eels in China's Guangxi and Fujian provinces.
Eel, a popular delicacy, is widely farmed in China. According to Hong Kong newspaper reports, Guangdong accounts for 80 percent of China's eel exports, worth 1 billion yuan (US$123 million) a year.
Malachite green is a toxic chemical used to treat parasites, fungal and bacterial infections in fish and fish eggs. Because of its threat to human health, it is banned in many countries. It is used mainly for ornamental fish but fish farms in many countries continue to use the chemical.
"If it's used in edible fish, it would permeate the whole fish ... how to get rid of it and how long that takes depends on different types of fish," said Chan King-ming, a biochemistry professor at the Chinese University.
"The worry is that the human body will absorb it," Chan told Hong Kong's Cable Television.
Hong Kong relies mainly on mainland China for its food supplies and the outbreak of a pig-borne disease in southwestern Sichuan province in recent weeks has resulted in a sharp fall in sales of pork in the city.
The Streptococcus suis bacteria has infected more than 200 people in Sichuan and killed 39 of them. Fears are growing that the bacteria may even have spread to other parts of China. Four people have been infected in Hong Kong.
The city also relies heavily on China for eel supplies.
"We will examine live eels for this chemical. If it's present, we will stop imports and destroy them," Chow said.
